Coil bridge conveyor

Abstract

A conveying apparatus for directing material into a die. The die includes a material opening to accept the material from a material feed system and is positioned in a press. The conveying system comprises a frame, including a front stanchion, a rear stanchion, a first side, and a second side. The first side is spaced a first distance from the second side and the front stanchion is spaced a second distance from the rear stanchion. A plurality of horizontal supports is operatively attached to first and second sides and spans the first distance. A plurality of horizontally expanding cross members is also included wherein each cross member supports one of the horizontal supports and is operatively connected to adjacent cross members. The cross members are positioned to vary the second distance. A vertical displacement device is operatively attached to the plurality of horizontal supports to vertically position the plurality of horizontal supports to direct the material to the material opening of the die.

1. A conveying apparatus for directing material to a die positioned in a mechanical press, the conveying system comprising:
 a frame; 
 a plurality of horizontal supports attached to the frame, each horizontal support spaced from the adjacent horizontal support and positioned to support the material; 
 a plurality of horizontally expanding cross members, each cross member supporting at least one of the horizontal supports and positioned to vary the spacing between the horizontal supports; and 
 a vertical displacement device operatively attached to the plurality of horizontal supports to vertically position the plurality of horizontal supports to direct the material to the die. 
 
   
   
     2. The conveying apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes at least one front stanchion and at least one rear stanchion, the at least one front stanchion space from the at least one rear stanchion, wherein the plurality of horizontally expanding cross members operatively connect the at least one front stanchion and the at least one rear stanchion. 
   
   
     3. The conveying apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the vertical displacement device is operatively attached to the at least one front stanchion and positioned to vertically position the at least one front stanchion with respect to the die. 
   
   
     4. The conveying apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the vertical displacement device vertically positions the material with respect to the die. 
   
   
     5. The conveying apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the frame further includes a first side spaced from a second side and the plurality of horizontal supports span the distance between the first side and the second side. 
   
   
     6. The conveying apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one rear stanchion includes a rotatable connection positioned to allow independent vertical movement of the at least one rear stanchion with respect to the at least one front stanchion. 
   
   
     7. The conveying apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of horizontal supports includes friction reducing members. 
   
   
     8. The conveying apparatus of  claim 1 , further including top supports positioned above and spaced from the horizontal supports to limit the vertical movement of the material. 
   
   
     9. The conveying apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each cross member is attached to one of the horizontal supports at a first attachment point and is attached to at least one other cross member at a second attachment point. 
   
   
     10. A conveying apparatus for directing material from a material feed system to a die, the die having a material opening and positioned in a mechanical press, the conveying system comprising:
 a frame including at least one front stanchion, at least one rear stanchion, a first side, and a second side, wherein the first side is spaced a first distance from the second side and the at least one front stanchion is space a second distance from the at least one rear stanchion and; 
 a plurality of horizontal supports operatively attached to the first and second side and spanning the first distance; 
 a plurality of horizontally expanding cross members, each cross member supporting at least one of the horizontal supports and operatively connected to adjacent cross members, wherein the cross members are positioned to vary the second distance; and 
 a vertical displacement device operatively attached to the plurality of horizontal supports to vertically position the plurality of horizontal supports to direct the material to the material opening of the die. 
 
   
   
     11. The conveying apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of horizontally expanding cross members span the second distance. 
   
   
     12. The conveying apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the vertical displacement device and the at least one front stanchion are shaped to be positioned within the mechanical press. 
   
   
     13. The conveying apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one rear stanchion is shaped to be positioned on the material feed system. 
   
   
     14. The conveying apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of horizontal supports includes friction reducing guides. 
   
   
     15. The conveying apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein each one of the plurality of cross members are attached to one of the horizontal supports at a first attachment point and is attached to at least one other cross member at a second attachment point. 
   
   
     16. The conveying apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each cross member is further attached to a cross member at a third attachment point. 
   
   
     17. A conveying apparatus for directing material from a material feed system to a die, the die having a material opening and positioned in a mechanical press, the conveying system comprising:
 a frame including at least one front stanchion, at least one rear stanchion, a first side, and a second side, wherein the first side is spaced a first distance from the second side and the at least one front stanchion is space a second distance from the at least one rear stanchion and; 
 a plurality of horizontal supports operatively attached to the first and second side and spanning the first distance, each horizontal support including friction reducing guides; 
 a plurality of horizontally expanding cross members, each cross member supporting at least one of the horizontal supports at a first attachment point and operatively connected to adjacent cross members at second and third attachment points, wherein collectively the cross members span the second distance and are positioned to vary the second distance; and 
 a vertical displacement device operatively attached to the plurality of horizontal supports to vertically position the plurality of horizontal supports to direct the material to the material opening of the die. 
 
   
   
     18. The conveying apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the vertical displacement device and the at least one front stanchion are shaped to be positioned within the mechanical press. 
   
   
     19. The conveying apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one rear stanchion is shaped to be positioned on the material feed system.